[squintstopher]

Check out the Weather Channel right now (11 am, Jan. 5) for a documentary on the flooding potential in sacramento.

[brandon12]

ahhh, it will never happen to us...

[sugit]

Too bad my cable has been out since yesterday afternoon...

[urban_encounter]

Check out the Weather Channel right now (11 am, Jan. 5) for a documentary on the flooding potential in sacramento.

I've been saying it for years..

I think it's comical because people complain that New Orleans only had 300-400 year floood protection while Sacramento cannot even claim 100 in some areas. Consider California's congressinal clout it's an absolute crime.

Anyway I've seen the Weather Channel report and it's actually pretty good.

[neuhickman79]

I've been saying it for years..

I think it's comical because people complain that New Orleans only had 300-400 year floood protection while Sacramento cannot even claim 100 in some areas. Consider California's congressinal clout it's an absolute crime.

Anyway I've seen the Weather Channel report and it's actually pretty good.
Sacramento has 1 representative in Congress...ONE! The other reps in CA and the 2 senators are not from California. So, they care more about their respective regions...the Bay Area and LA. California should be split up into 2 states so that if Southern California (with more people and money!) wants our water or our resources, they have to pay for it!!! When they pay for what they take, we won't have to spend so much state (of North California) money to build things for water resources. Then, we might actually get a new freeway around here or some better public transportation. We have 2 million people. We shouldn't be the pariah of the state. If this is how we feel, how does Fresno feel with half as many people!?? Sometimes, I hate the way this state runs!!!

[brandon12]

^very respectfully newhickman, I have no idea what you're saying.

[wburg]

I think he means they're both from Sacramento, and is referring to the ongoing effort to split California into two states--there have been over 100 efforts to do so in the state's history.

It *has* happened here before--that's why we have this wonderful levee system (and an elevated downtown that was raised a dozen or so feet above original grade) in the first place.

[urban_encounter]

While i do have serious concerns about the unmitigated growth in Southern California, which continues to demand more and more water resources; i think dividing this state would mean economic disaster for Sacramento. It's a bad idea and quite frankly it will never fly. Well at least not until Northern California reaches more parity with Southern California in terms of population and political clout, which will probably be long after i'm gone.

Personally i would never vote for it though.

What I would vote for, is telling Southern California to start looking at placing some growth controls on all of their sprawl and find ways of mitigating water demand. They are totally dependent of Northern California and the Colorado River for water.

[econgrad]

I don't believe the hype. The flooding hype I mean. We just had a huge storm and nothing happened. It makes ratings and gets people to watch their channel...

[TowerDistrict]

Glad I live near Poverty Ridge! All I need is a boat and a lawn chair.

[neuhickman79]

I don't believe the hype. The flooding hype I mean. We just had a huge storm and nothing happened. It makes ratings and gets people to watch their channel...
How long have you lived in this area? You are very naive to think that this area is not at risk for flooding! They said on the news that we could have had some serious problems if it weren't for the fact that we hadn't had any storms within a week of the big one we just had.

[brandon12]

Glad I live near Poverty Ridge! All I need is a boat and a lawn chair.

I'm a bit slow-witted tonight. What do you mean? Is poverty ridge a relatively low risk or risk area for flooding? Is that even what you're referring to?

signed, confused in poverty ridge

[TowerDistrict]

Sorry, way too subtle there...

My understanding is that Poverty Ridge is the city's high ground, as it's
just about the only hill in the area. When the city used to flood, many of
the less fortunate residents would camp out on the lawns of the Poverty
Ridge mansions. So the name of the neighborhood is pure sarcasm.

Edit/Addition:

Here is a great story (http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=oid%3A9898) the News & Review did on some old neighborhoods
and how they got their names. Even includes my neighborhood "Homeland"!

[brandon12]

^interesting. thanks :)

[neuhickman79]

Sorry, way to subtle there...

My understanding is that Poverty Ridge is the city's high ground, as it's
just about the only hill in the area. When the city used to flood, many of
the less fortunate residents would camp out on the lawns of the Poverty
Ridge mansions. So the name of the neighborhood is pure sarcasm.

Edit/Addition:

Here is a great story (http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=oid%3A9898) the News & Review did on some old neighborhoods
and how they got their names. Even includes my neighborhood "Homeland"!
That article was awesome!

[econgrad]

How long have you lived in this area? You are very naive to think that this area is not at risk for flooding! They said on the news that we could have had some serious problems if it weren't for the fact that we hadn't had any storms within a week of the big one we just had.

I am no means an expert! I am just not buying it. I am sure there is a risk, but I also believe people like to sensationalize things. I also do not believe that the people in the know are that stupid to allow so much damage to happen, it would be an economic disaster as well as a natural disaster. If the people in charge are that stupid, we are pretty much screwed anyway.

That News and Review article was really cool!

[urban_encounter]

I also do not believe that the people in the know are that stupid to allow so much damage to happen, it would be an economic disaster as well as a natural disaster. If the people in charge are that stupid, we are pretty much screwed anyway.


Huh?

You don't believe that people "in the know are that stupid to allow so much damage to happen".. What the?

The people "in the know"??? You should be in the know. You should know that you live in a soup bowl where millions of gallons of water pour down from the Sierra into a valley. A valley reclaimed from wetlands and a valley criss crossed with rivers and creeks.. You shouldn't need anyone to tell you that when the rivers are running full the river runs above the city. Should a levee break the city floods; it's that simple.

The people in the know can't tell you where to live or whether or not to secure flood insurance.

You should know.

[econgrad]

Huh?

You don't believe that people "in the know are that stupid to allow so much damage to happen".. What the?

The people "in the know"??? You should be in the know. You should know that you live in a soup bowel where millions of gallons of water pour down from the Sierra into a valley. A valley reclaimed from wetlands and a valley criss crossed with rivers and creeks.. You shouldn't need anyone to tell you that when the rivers are running full the river runs above the city. Should a levee break the city floods; it's that simple.

The people in the know can't tell you where to live or whether or not to secure flood insurance.

You should know.

LOL! Your right. I am trying to say that: The people who make the decisions about levee repairs, and that get the levee reports and studies and data. This takes time to look at and analyze (its a full time job right?). I don't have that time. I pay taxes so i don't have to deal with it. Thats all. Geez, what do you expect me to do, go out and fix the levee's myself?

[wburg]

http://www.sacramentohistory.org/admin/photo/171_2139.JPG
Here's Sacramento in 1862, from Front and K Street. A levee near the McKinley/Elvas area broke due to the American River's heavy flow, and the town filled with water. Because there was another levee at R Street at the time, and the water didn't have a place to go, the whole central city filled up like a bowl. It looked like this despite the fact that K Street and the central district had already been raised five feet to prevent floods! Later flood control efforts and street raisings limited future floods, but for a while the city was at real risk of abandonment, and there were several efforts to relocate the state capital because of flood concerns.

Poverty Ridge was indeed the place where the poor folks along the waterfront gathered when Sacramento flooded, although there weren't any mansions there yet. Mostly south of the R Street railroad levee, it was mostly farmland back then. When developers started building houses in the neighborhood, they tried to change the name to "Sutter's Terrace" and get rid of the old nickname, but the name stuck. Further south, the neighborhood of Highland Park got its name because it sits on high ground, hopefully appealing to Sacramentans sick of flooding in other outlying areas.

We got through this particular storm unscathed, but generally it isn't water from above that causes the city to flood: it is heavy river flows that crest or break levees. We had bad floods in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s that inundated whole neighborhoods, and we have built out on a lot more floodplain in the past decade. This means both more neighborhoods dependent on levees for their existence, and less open land to act as a sponge to soak up excess water.

[squintstopher]

Cold storms early in the season are not the dangerous ones. It's the big, warm storms that occur after a huge snow base has built up. Rain falls in the mountains and melts the snow, quickly bringing the rivers to flood stage.

As for assuming our leaders know what they're doing... are you completely unaware of the Katrina disaster?

[urban_encounter]

Geez, what do you expect me to do, go out and fix the levee's myself?

They might get repaired quicker than relying on the state, local and federal government's

;)

[econgrad]

They might get repaired quicker than relying on the state, local and federal government's

;)

HAHAHA! Who wants to help?

My point is: If your worried about it, get your flood insurance or move to higher ground. If your staying, get your insurance and keep some supplies handy in case of a big disaster. Then move on and live your life and don't give it another thought...more likely you might be killed in a car accident, yet we don't panic about that everyday.

[neuhickman79]

HAHAHA! Who wants to help?

My point is: If your worried about it, get your flood insurance or move to higher ground. If your staying, get your insurance and keep some supplies handy in case of a big disaster. Then move on and live your life and don't give it another thought...more likely you might be killed in a car accident, yet we don't panic about that everyday.
Speak for yourself...PTSD sucks!

[TowerDistrict]

When I bought my home three years ago, it was mandatory to purchase
flood insurance. The very next year, it was made optional. Later that year
Katrina hit and all the local scare stirred up. But it's still only optional here.

[ltsmotorsport]

While i do have serious concerns about the unmitigated growth in Southern California, which continues to demand more and more water resources; i think dividing this state would mean economic disaster for Sacramento. It's a bad idea and quite frankly it will never fly. Well at least not until Northern California reaches more parity with Southern California in terms of population and political clout, which will probably be long after i'm gone.

Yeah, but we could make BILLIONS selling water down south. :evil:

[urban_encounter]

HAHAHA! Who wants to help?

My point is: If your worried about it, get your flood insurance or move to higher ground. If your staying, get your insurance and keep some supplies handy in case of a big disaster. Then move on and live your life and don't give it another thought...more likely you might be killed in a car accident, yet we don't panic about that everyday.

Yeah i think anyone living in the flood plain should have flood insurance.

I had it when i lived in Hollywood Park.

By the same token people living in earthquake prone areas should be mandated to have earthquake insurance..

[squintstopher]

Yeah i think anyone living in the flood plain should have flood insurance.

I had it when i lived in Hollywood Park.

By the same token people living in earthquake prone areas should be mandated to have earthquake insurance..

I agree. Inevitably if people don't have insurance they'll ask the government to bail them out after a disaster. Government should cover its ass by either requiring insurance or making a disclaimer that if people live without insurance there it's on their heads if floods happen.